Kansas City, KS Road Trips
Drivers starting from Kansas City, KS have 13 mapped routes to choose from, making it a regional road trip hub in the Great Plains. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 168-mile quick runs to 422-mile cross-state drives. Most routes from Kansas City, KS head west, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
15
Longest Drive
441.1 mi
Saint Francis, KS
Quickest Drive
21m
Prairie Village, KS
Plan Around Kansas City, KS
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Kansas City, KS is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Kansas City, KS
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Kansas City, KS
Kansas City, KS to Hugoton, KS
Kansas City, KS to Plains, KS
Kansas City, KS to Meade, KS
Kansas City, KS to Lyons, KS
Kansas City, KS to Cheney, KS
Kansas City, KS to Maize, KS
Kansas City, KS to Sedgwick, KS
Kansas City, KS to Park City, KS
Kansas City, KS to Bellaire, KS
Kansas City, KS to Newton, KS
Kansas City, KS to Andover, KS
Kansas City, KS to Benton, KS
Kansas City, KS to Peabody, KS
Driving from Kansas City, KS
Expect an average of 240 miles and about 4h 22m behind the wheel when leaving Kansas City, KS. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 422 miles (7h 58m), while the shortest is just 168 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from Kansas City, KS include Hugoton, KS (421.6 mi, 7h 58m), Plains, KS (382.4 mi, 7h 3m), Meade, KS (367.7 mi, 6h 46m), Lyons, KS (223.7 mi, 4h 7m), and Cheney, KS (223.1 mi, 3h 57m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in KS currently averages around $3.77 per gallon. For the typical 240-mile trip from Kansas City, KS, budget about $35 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring. Most routes head west — leaving in the morning keeps the sun behind you for a more comfortable drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 13 mapped routes leaving Kansas City, KS and 2 routes heading into Kansas City, KS, covering 15 total connections. Distances range from 168 to 422 miles.
The longest mapped route from Kansas City, KS covers 422 miles and takes approximately 7h 58m. Shorter options start at just 168 miles.
The average route from Kansas City, KS runs about 240 miles with a drive time of roughly 4h 22m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.77/gallon for regular), the average 240-mile trip from Kansas City, KS costs roughly $35 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Kansas City, KS include Hugoton, KS, Plains, KS, Meade, KS and Lyons, KS. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Kansas City, KS at a Glance
Founded
1868
Elevation
869 ft
Area
128 mi²
Sister Cities
Notable People from Kansas City, KS
A sampling of people born in Kansas City, KS.
Charlie Parker
1920–1955
American jazz saxophonist (1920–1955)
Janelle Monáe
1985
American singer and actress (born 1985)
Dee Wallace
1948
American actress
Maurice Greene
1974
American sprinter
Scott Foley
1972
American actor
Eric Stonestreet
1971
American actor
S. Scott Bullock
1956
American actor
Angus Scrimm
1926–2016
American actor (1926–2016)
Tuc Watkins
1966
American actor
City data from Wikidata (Q486472), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Kansas City, KS
Kansas City is a city in the state of Kansas, in the United States of America, and a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas City, Kansas, is often referred to as KCK, and Kansas City, Missouri, as KCMO. The two Kansas Cities form the core of the wider Kansas City metropolitan area.
1 Huron Indian Cemetery, 7th St and Ann Ave. Dawn-dusk daily. Started in 1843. Most burials date to the mid to late 19th century. (updated Oct 2017) 2 Strawberry Hill. Has interesting eastern European bakeries and shops, as well as a nice view overlooking the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers. 3 Sporting Kansas City. Catching a Major League Soccer game! Kansas City, Kansas is home to the Sporting Kansas City. (updated Apr 2017) 4 Grinter Place State Historic Site, 1420 S 78th St, ☏ +1 913 299-0373, [email protected]. Adults $6, Seniors 65+/Active Military/College students with ID $5, Children (5-17) $3. (updated Sep 2020) 5 National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, 630 N 126th St, Bonner Springs, KS, ☏ +1 913 721-1075, [email protected]. Suggested donation $5/person. (updated Sep 2020) 6 Rosedale World War I Memorial Arch (Rosedale Arch), 3232 Springfield St. Large stone arch based on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Constructed to honor those who fought in WWI, Korea, and Vietnam. (updated Feb 2025) 7 Quindaro Ruins & John Brown Statue, 3507 N 27th St. Historic site of a settlement of abolitionists and freed slaves, and an important destination on the Underground Railroad. Only a statue of John Brown remains of the original set of structures. (updated Feb 2024)
1 Kansas Speedway, 400 Speedway Blvd, toll-free: +1-866-460-7223. Stock car racetrack. (updated Sep 2020) 2 Azura Amphitheater (Sandstone Amphitheater), 633 N 130th St, Bonner Springs, KS, ☏ +1 913-825-3400. (updated Feb 2021) 3 Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway, 777 Hollywood Casino Blvd, ☏ +1 913-288-9300. (updated Feb 2025) 4 7th Street Casino, 777 North 7th Street Trafficway, ☏ +1 913-371-3500, [email protected]. Slots-only casino (no table games) in an old Scottish Rite Temple built in 1909. (updated Feb 2025) 5 Lakeside Speedway, 5615 Wolcott Dr, ☏ +1 913-299-9206, [email protected]. Weekly dirt racing April thru October. (updated Feb 2025)
1 El Camino Real, 903 N 7th St, ☏ +1 913 342-4333. A dive with authentic Mexican food, with especially great tacos al pastor (pork) and chorizo sausage. Tacos are made with freshly-pressed corn tortillas and all the proper trimmings: cilantro, onions, green chili sauce, etc. $1.50-8. 2 Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (formerly Oklahoma Joe's BBQ), 3002 W 47th Ave, ☏ +1 913 722-3366. M-Sa 11AM-9PM. Served out of a very unassuming gas station is what is widely considered to be the best BBQ in Kansas City, and that's saying something. Brave the lines—this is a can't miss. $8-25. (updated Sep 2020) 3 Vietnam Cafe, 2200 W 39th Ave, ☏ +1 913 262-8552. Tu-Su 11AM-7:30PM. This is Kansas City's go-to place for pho, a scrumptious Vietnamese beef noodle soup—the comfort food of choice in Southeast Asia. For those not in the mood, the restaurant has a fairly long list of other dishes to experiment with. $6-12. 4 Jones Bar-B-Q, 6706 Kaw Dr, ☏ +1 816-541-8270, toll-free: +1 855-752-7227. Tu-Sa 10ː45AM-3PM or sellout. (updated Feb 2025)
1 Holiday Inn Express, 1931 Prairie Crossing, Parallel Pkwy, ☏ +1 913 328-1024. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: Noon. 2 Days Inn, 7721 Elizabeth Ave, ☏ +1 913 624-3459. 3 Fairfield Inn & Suites Kansas City Liberty, 8101 N Church Rd (In Kansas City of Missouri), ☏ +1 816-792-4000, fax: +1 816-792-0764. Offers complimentary hot breakfast, free Internet and an indoor saltwater pool. 4 Chateau Avalon, 701 Village West Pkwy, ☏ +1 913 596-6000, [email protected]. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. (updated Sep 2020)
1 Kansas City International Airport (MCI IATA) serves the Kansas City area and is located in the Northland. The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority offers hourly service to and from the airport on the #129 bus, called the Route 229, M-F 5AM-7PM. Park Air Express offers a shuttle service between the airport and downtown hotels. 2 Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC IATA) serves smaller planes. Amtrak serves KC via the cavernous Union Station, located at Main and Pershing in Kansas City, Missouri. KC serves as a major stop on the daily Southwest Chief line which provides service between Chicago and Los Angeles. Barring delays, eastbound trains arrive at 7:24AM and westbound trains arrive at 10:11PM. Kansas City is also the western terminus of Amtrak's Missouri River Runner which heads east to St. Louis. The Missouri River Runner runs twice daily in each direction. Interstate 435 forms a ring around the city. Notably I-70 goes east to St. Louis and west to Denver. I-35 is a major corridor running northeast and southwest. US Highway 71 runs north and south and forms a midtown expressway, running from the I-435/I-470 interchange, in a northwesterly course toward downtown, where it joins I-29. North of the River, US 71 follows the same route as I-29. Greyhound. (updated May 2022) KC is also serviced by other commercial coach service companies, which arrive and depart from the depot at 10th and Troost.
Travel tips adapted from Kansas City (Kansas) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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